Vol 16, No 5 (2013)

The authors of this review of literature discuss the pathogenesis of autoimmune urticaria and the history of its distinguishing as a nosological entity. These data on autoimmune urticaria will be useful for specialists and will promote optimization of its diagnosis and therapy. Some autoimmune diseases can manifest by symptoms of chronic urticaria; on the other hand, urticaria is autoimmune in 30—40% cases. In addition, it is assumed that the disease is associated with the presence of autoantibodies — anti-FcεRI and (rarely) anti-IgE. It is essential to differentiate autoimmune urticaria from other disease forms by intradermal test with autoimmune serum and in vitro studies. It is characterized by a more severe prolonged course and resistance to antihistaminic therapy. In many cases the diagnosis of autoimmune urticaria allows dscontinuing further tests, aimed at detection of the disease cause.

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy — photopheresis — was used for the treatment of anetodermia. A pronounced clinical effect (4 sessions every other day) was attained in the treatment of Schwenninger-Buzzi’a anetodermia (developing in the presence of Lewandowsky-Lutz verruciform epidermodysplasia) and Jadassohn ’s anetodermia. Photopheresis induced a trend to normalization of some immunological parameters. This is the first in world literature report about pronounced clinical efficiency and pathogenetic nature of photopheresis in anetodermia.

The structure and functions of the skin were studied in the newborns by noninvasive methods. A comprehensive morphofunctional study was carried out in 10 newborns aged 1—28 days by optical coherent tomography using an optical coherent tomograph fitted with a flexible probe with a microscanner (wavelength 920 nm, longitudinal resolution 20 μ, transverse resolution 25 μ) and a multifunctional unit. The findings indicated that the skin of newborns differed by structure and functions from adolescent skin. The specific features of the newborn skin function were explained by its microstructure. The key differences in the structure, detected in the thick skin, demonstrated an incomplete process of skin structures formation by birth.

Clinical and morphological characteristics of a rare pigmented form of lichen planus are analyzed as exemplified by 4 cases observed by the authors. The observations demonstrate the clinical features of this form of lichen planus, difficult for the diagnosis and choice of therapy because of obscure etiology and manifestations similar to those of other skin diseases.

Increasing incidence of severe forms of psoriasis with high incidence of comorbidities necessitates special attention to the dermatosis course in patients with excessive body weight and obesity. Our study detected significant differences in the course of psoriasis in patients with different body weight indexes. Characteristic hormonal metabolic disorders and disorders in the food behavior and quality of life were detected in patients with excessive body weight and obesity in comparison with the group of psoriasis patients with normal body weight index.

Osteocalcin protein was measured in leprous patients with osteodestructive complications and in the reference group of patients with other diseases. Osteocalcin concentrations were higher than normally in both groups, but to a different degree. The concentrations of this protein were significantly higher in leprous patients with osteodestructive changes. A 10-fold elevation of serum osteocalcin concentrations indicated destructive changes in bone tissue.

The synthesis of testosterone is catalyzed by 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The development of acne is partialy associated with androgen-mediated hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands. The distribution and concentrations of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the skin were studied in patients with acne. The results indicated hyperexpression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in sebocytes, this presumably indicating disorders of the steroid metabolism in acne skin.